1

Surviving Through The Loss of A Sibling

Leann Kaufman

Department of Psychology, Park University

PS300: Research Methods

Dr. Naomi Estrada

July 5, 2020

The loss of a child in any circumstance is devastating and the feelings of loss
and emotional upset are far reaching with the most vulnerable being the sibling(s) left
behind. The sibling(s) left to shift in the paradigm of what has always been the family
unit and adjust to their new place within the family all while everyone else does as
well. To say this is a tough adjustment is an understatement. It is one that many don’t
notice is happening and one that many siblings in this particular situation do without
acknowledgment because of the focus that is on the grieving parents.
For the purposes of this research paper I will conduct a Quasi-Experimental
Design experiment in which I will follow 9 patients within the cancer center of the
local Children’s Hospital. All of which have the same diagnosis of varying type of
cancer, all with a terminal diagnosis. All of the patient children are within the same
age range (between 5-14 years of age). All have at least one sibling. These are the
criteria for experiment, all other family and personal identifying factors of the patient
and family have not been considered for the purposes of this experiment.
The reason that I have chosen to use this experiment design is based on the data
that am seeking to retrieve I need in real time with a specific set of patients and a
specific family dynamic of a minimum of one sibling. This study would be difficult
to collect data on by random sampling or other experimental design so I chose this
design due to the ability to have the comparison groups be predetermined. I feel that
this will offer me the best quality insight for the data that I am hoping to retrieve.
The independent variable for the purposes of this experiment will be the
sibling(s). The sibling(s) be monitored for their reactions, responses, interactions,
 2

overall health and personal requests during the duration of this experiment.
Additionally, they will be offered a variety of services, resources, age appropriate
toys, relaxation items and other resources throughout the course of this experiment.
The Dependent variable in the study will be the patient and the parent(s) as there
will be no manipulation of input over what will be offered to them, how they respond
to what is going on in the course of the illness, how they react, how they interact,
what their needs or. All of these will will be documented for the purposes of the
study to correspond with the needs of the sibling in the current time frame for
reference purposes only.